There is a consensus that jobs are vital in translating economic growth into lasting poverty reduction and social cohesion. But who creates jobs is an understudied field. This Economic Premise argues that there is a strong link between initial levels of young and small firms and subsequent job...

This Economic Premise examines the link between highways and spatial development. The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) highway project in India—5,846 km of highways linking four major urban hubs—improved the connectivity and market accessibility of districts close to the highway compared to those...

Policy makers in both developed and developing countries want to accelerate spatial development, make cities more competitive, attract new entrepreneurs, boost economic growth, and promote job creation. These are commendable goals given that city populations in developing countries are expected...

Despite rapid economic growth, gender disparities in women’s economic participation have remained deep and persistent in India. What explains these gender disparities? Is it poor infrastructure, limited education, or the composition of the labor force and industries? Or is it deficiencies in...

Should developing countries focus on the development of urban infrastructure and in general facilitate the location of employment in its large cities to exploit the still important agglomeration economies? Or should they develop infrastructure in medium-density locations to remove some of the...